How Much Does It Cost to Start a Barbershop in Massachusetts?

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Starting a Barbershop in Massachusetts typically costs between $23,100 and $269,500, with a median estimate of $100,100. Massachusetts’s cost of living runs 50% above the national average, which increases commercial rent and labor costs. LLC formation in Massachusetts costs $500 to file. Most barbershop businesses take 2-4 months to launch.

Last updated: May 2026

Barbershop startup costs illustration — typical equipment and setup

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Barbershop in Massachusetts?

Low

$23,100

Medium

$100,100

High

$269,500

National average: $15,000 – $175,000

Interactive Startup Cost Calculator

Startup Cost Calculator

Barbershop in Massachusetts

Budget:

Shop Space Lease & Build-Out

$38,500

Barber Chairs & Equipment

$15,400

Barber Tools & Supplies

$4,620

State License & Business Permits

$1,540

Insurance

$1,725

Booking Software

$1,232

Marketing & Branding

$4,620

Working Capital Reserve

$15,400

Options

Include 3 months working capital (+$36,960)

Employees:Just Me1–34–10

Startup Costs

$83,037

Monthly Costs

$12,320

First Year Total

$230,877

Full Cost Breakdown

Cost Category	Low	Medium	High	Notes
Shop Space Lease & Build-Out	$7,700	$38,500	$123,200	A 4-chair shop needs 600-1,000 sq ft. Classic barber shop aesthetic (brick, dark wood, vintage chairs) drives repeat visits.
Barber Chairs & Equipment	$4,620	$15,400	$46,200	Takara Belmont and Belvedere are the dominant barber-chair brands and are priced as a meaningful per-chair capital purchase. Vintage chair restorations from estate sales add character at materially lower cost.
Barber Tools & Supplies	$1,540	$4,620	$12,320	Wahl and Andis professional clippers are the workhorse tools for the trade. A complete starter kit per barber — clippers, trimmers, shears, straight razor, strop — is a low-to-mid four-figure investment.
State License & Business Permits	$308	$1,540	$4,620	Barber licenses require 1,000-1,500 hours of schooling in most states. The establishment license itself is typically a low three-figure cost; the larger gate is the school requirement.
Insurance	$575	$1,725	$4,600	Barber insurance is typically a low-to-mid three-figure annual cost through industry associations like ABMP (https://www.abmp.com/) or independent insurers.
Booking Software	$308	$1,232	$4,620	StyleSeat, Booksy, and Squire are popular barbershop-specific booking platforms billed on monthly subscriptions that scale with chair count.
Marketing & Branding	$770	$4,620	$15,400	Instagram transformation content and before/after photos are essential for barbershop marketing.
Working Capital Reserve	$4,620	$15,400	$46,200	Barbershops build loyal clientele quickly — most shops reach break-even within 6-12 months.
Total Startup Cost	$20,441	$83,037	$257,160	Required costs only

Licenses & Permits in Massachusetts

General Business License

Massachusetts does not have a statewide general business license, but businesses must register their entity with the Massachusetts Secretary of State (Corporations Division) and register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue for sales tax and employer tax purposes. Many Massachusetts cities and towns require local business certificates — Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, and other municipalities have their own licensing systems. The state offers a MassTaxConnect portal for tax registration.

Industry-Specific Licenses

Food Establishment Permit — Massachusetts Department of Public Health or Local Board of Health
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Home Improvement Contractor Registration — Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
Cosmetology Shop License — Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
Real Estate Broker License — Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
Child Care Program License — Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Common Victualler License and All Alcohol License — Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission or Local License Authority
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Marijuana Retailer License — Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Transportation Network Company License — Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual

Home-Based Business Rules

Massachusetts cities and towns regulate home-based businesses through local zoning bylaws. Boston allows home occupations with restrictions on signage, customer visits, employees, and the proportion of home space used for business. Many Massachusetts communities restrict the types of businesses allowed as home occupations. Massachusetts's Chapter 40A amendments have expanded housing-based business opportunities, but commercial regulations vary widely by municipality.

Resources

Monthly Operating Costs

After launch, plan for these ongoing monthly expenses for your Barbershop:

Low

$3,000/mo

Medium

$8,000/mo

High

$20,000/mo

Revenue Potential

Annual Revenue Range

$60,000 – $450,000 (annual)

Profit Margins

15-30%

Break-Even Timeline

6-18 months

How Massachusetts Compares to Neighboring States

Massachusetts is a higher-cost state for starting a Barbershop, with a cost-of-living index of 149.5 (national average is 100). Compared to neighboring New York ($90,350 median startup cost), Massachusetts has higher costs for a Barbershop.

State	Est. Cost	LLC Fee
Massachusetts (current)	$100,100	$500
New York	$90,350	$200
Vermont	$70,850	$125
New Hampshire	$76,050	$102
Rhode Island	$72,800	$150
Connecticut	$77,350	$120

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1
Opening in a location with poor foot traffic — barbershops live on walk-ins plus loyal repeat clients
2
Not building a booking system early — appointment slots are inventory; wasted slots are revenue lost forever
3
Underpricing cuts — pricing meaningfully below the local market floor races to the bottom and undercuts the entire P&L; price for the actual quality of the work
4
Hiring barbers without confirming their state licensure status
5
Not creating a distinct brand and aesthetic that makes clients want to come back and refer friends

Next Steps to Launch Your Barbershop

1
Obtain your Massachusetts barber license from the Massachusetts Board of Barber Examiners before cutting hair
2
Register your Barbershop as an LLC with the Massachusetts Secretary of State ($500 filing fee)
3
Pass the Massachusetts health department inspection for your barbershop — includes sanitation practices and blade sterilization
4
Lease your space and outfit barber chairs, mirrors, back bar, wash stations, and waiting area
5
Establish wholesale accounts for clippers, trimmers, barbicide, and grooming product suppliers
6
Get professional liability and general liability insurance for barbershop operations; premiums scale with chair count
7
Set up your booking system — Square Appointments, Booksy, or GlossGenius work well for barbershops
8
Hire licensed barbers — verify all staff hold current Massachusetts barber licenses before their first cut

Frequently Asked Questions

Opening a barbershop spans a wide range. A small two-chair shop in modest space can open in the low-to-mid five figures. A four-to-six chair barbershop with premium aesthetic and equipment requires meaningfully more — well into the five to low six figures. A high-end flagship barbershop with private suites and full grooming services requires materially more capital. Use the calculator on this page to model your specific scenario.

Owner take-home varies materially with model and chair count. A four-chair shop running at full utilization grosses meaningful annual revenue, with the owner's net depending on the commission split or booth-rental structure plus rent and supplies. Booth-rental shops where barbers pay weekly rent provide more predictable owner income because the rent is fixed regardless of each barber's daily volume.

You need a state barbershop establishment license, a business license, and all employed barbers must hold valid state barber licenses. Barber licenses require 1,000-1,500 hours of education at a licensed barber school plus a state licensing exam.

Booth rental (a fixed weekly chair fee) provides predictable owner income regardless of individual barber performance. Commission (a percentage split with the house) rewards high performers but leaves owner income variable. Most shops start with commission to control quality, then offer booth rental to top performers who want independence.

A skilled barber sees roughly a dozen clients per 8-hour day, averaging half an hour per cut. At standard service rates, one full-time barber generates a six-figure annual gross. A four-barber shop scales that to a multiple of single-chair revenue.

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Start a Barbershop in Other States

See the national overview for Barbershop or browse all businesses you can start in Massachusetts.